Substance support for slicing machines



y 1934- w. A. VAN BERKEL I 1,960,420 SUBSTANCE SUPPORT FOR'SLICING MACHINES Filed Sept. 21. 1931 2 Sheets-Shefi 1 May 29, 1934. w. A. VAN BERKEL SUBSTANCE SUPPORT FOR SLICING MACHINES Filed Sept. 21, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 29, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE SUBSTANCE SUPPORT FOR SLICING MACHINES Wilhelmus Adrianus van Berkel, Clarens, Switzerland, assignor to U. S. Slicing Machine Company, La Porte, Ind. a. corporation of Indiana Application September 21, 1931, Serial No. 563,991

In Great Britain 13 Claims.

which the substance to be sliced may be passed so that the same may be presented to the knife, the frame having a bridge portion over the openwhich bridge portion supports the swinging arm. A work table is generally mounted adjacent to the opening for supporting the substance to be sliced, and in theusual construction, this table is mounted in a stationaryposition although the same may have-a feed plate to cause a mechanical feed of the substance along said work table.

The difficulty with such machines has been primarily that a portion of the frame prevents the operator from having convenient access to the work table. It is therefore difficult to place the substance on the work table in proper position for slicing, and therefore one object of this invention is to provide a work table which can 7 be moved out of operative position to permit the substance to be placed thereon and clamped to the feed plate which slides relative to the work table.

In my co-pending application, Serial No.

421,623, on slicing machines, filed January 18, 1930, I have disclosed a work table which can be moved from an operative to an inoperative position for substantiallyv the same purpose as in the present invention, namely, to enable one to clamp the substance on the table while the table is out of operative position. The difliculty however with moving the work table ina rectilinear path is that it is necessary to provide means for connecting and disconnecting the feeding mechanism as the table moves into and out of operative position.

An important object of this invention therefore is to provide a means for moving a work table out of operative position without disconnecting the feeding mechanism. If the feeding mechanism must be connected and disconnected each time the table is moved into and out of operative position, a corresponding wearand tear on the parts results, and this decreases the efficiency of the apparatus. Furthermore, it does not insure that the feeding mechanism will be properly connected and disconnected at all times, and an improper feeding may occur.

Another object of this invention is to pivot the work table into and out of operative position and September 24, 1930 provide a feeding mechanism which is not disconnected upon the movement of the table to an inoperative position.

Another object is to provide a means for looking' the work table in its operative position.

In the drawings:

of a slicing machine embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan View of a device embodying my invention showing the work table in its inoperative position.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the parts in an operative position.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of my device as viewed from the right in Figure 1, and,

vention as viewed from the right in Fig. 4.

The frame comprises a'base portion 1, provided with the'feet 2, an upstanding web portion 3, and webs 4, which brace the bracket 3, the bracket having an opening 5, through which the substance is moved so that the same can be sliced by the slicing knife.

' The slicing knife 6, is rotatably supported on a spindle 7, carried by the arm 8, which is pivoted at 9 to the bracket 3. An extension 10 on the arm carries a handle 11, which is used for the purpose of reciprocating the arm 8 about its pivot 9.' While I have illustrated a manual means for reciprocating the arm 8, it will be understood that mechanical means may be provided for this purpose if desired. The arm 8 is also provided with a guard 12.

A motor 13 drives a sprocket 14 by means of a chain 15 or the like, the sprocket 14 being secured to the pivot 9. There is also a second sprocket 16.

secured to the pivot 9, and a chain 17 is trained over the sprocket 16, and a sprocket 18 which latter sprocket is secured to the knife spindle 7.

The base has an upwardly extending pin 19,

secured in the boss 20 formed on the base.

work table 21 has The a journal bearing 22 formed.

integrally with the work table, and the pin 19 sets within the journal bearing 22 so that the work table may be pivoted about the pin 19, to move the work table from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 2. that in the position shown in Fig. 3, the work- It will be noted ceive the rib 23.

The projection 24, therefore Fig. 1 is an end elevation from the knife side N Fig. 5 is a fragmentary end elevation of my inguides and supports the work table during its movement about the pin 19.

A means is provided for locking the work table in its operative position, this means being shown particularly in Figs. 2, 3, and 4. A projection 25, extending upwardly and outwardly from the rib 23 is notched as at 26. A projection 2'7 extending outwardly from the work table 21 carries an arm 28 pivoted at 29, and has a gripping handle 30 at its extreme outer end. The rotation of the arm 28 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2 is limited by the stop 31. The arm 28 has a supplemental operating arm 32 pivoted thereto at 33. The rotation of the arm 32 about its pivot in a clockwise direction is limited by the stop 34 on the arm 28. Telescoping members 35 and 36 pivoted to the extension 27 and arm 32 respectively are surrounded by a compression spring 37 abutting against shoulders on the telescoping numbers so that normally both the arms 32 and 28 are rotated in a clockwise direction about their respective pivots.

The arm 32 is also provided with an operating handle 38. By grasping the operating handles 30 and 38, the operator can draw the arm 32 toward the extension 27, and by a slight twisting movement of his hand cause the rotation of the arm 28 about its pivot in a counter-clockwise direction.

When the table is moved from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 3, the arms 28 and 32 are rotated in a counter-clockwise direction about their respective pivots by the operator, and the surface 39 on the extension 27 abuts against the surface 40 onthe projection 25. This locates the table in proper relation to the knife and when the operator releases the handles 38 and 30, the compression spring 37 will rotate the arms 28 and 32 so that the arm 28 is arranged within the slot 26, and the arm 32 is arranged on the side of the projection 25 opposite to the side on which the extension 27 is arranged. The end of the arm 32 has a cam portion 41, which is pressed yieldingly against the projection 25 to hold the surfaces 39 and 40 in engagement with each other.

The work table 21 is provided with a feed plate 42 which is guided by the dove-tail guides 43 in a manner which is quite well known in the art to which this invention relates. A feed screw 44, rotatably mounted in the bearings 45, on the work table 21 is engaged by a nut 46 on the feed plate 42 so that when the feed screw 44 is rotated, the feed plate is advanced toward the cutting plane of the knife. The feed plate is provided with an upright 47 upon which the clamp 48 is slidably mounted. The clamp is provided with a handle 49 and a releasing trigger 50 adapted to release a clamping means which holds the clamp 48 in adjusted position on the upright 47.. The clamp is prevented from rotating about the upright 47 by a second upright 51 mounted on the feed plate and engaging a bearing 52 formed as an extension of the handle 49.

When the table is in the position shown in Fig. 2, the substance A may be placed on the work table and partially supported by the work table and feed plate. The clamp is then brought down against the substance tohold the same in fixed relation to the feed plate 42. The work table is then moved to its operative position shown in Fig. 3, and feeding mechanism which I will now proceed to describe rotates the feed screw 44 to advance the substance by means of the feed plate 42 toward the cutting plane of the knife.

In Fig. 1, I have shown a pin 53 on the bracket 3 which pin projects on opposite sides of the bracket 53, and is rotatably mounted in said bracket. Arms 54 and 55 are secured to the opposite ends of the pin 53. A link 56 pivoted to the arm 54 at 57 and to the arm 8 at 58 is adapted to impart a rocking movement to the arm 54 during reciprocation of the arm 8. This reciprocating motion is imparted to the arm 55 to cause the end of the arm 55 to move in a substantially vertical direction, this motion being transmitted to a rod 59 pivoted to the arm 55 at 60. The lower end of the rod 59 is pivoted to arm 61 of a bell-crank (see particularly Fig. 5) pivoted at 62 to the bracket 3. The other arm 62 of the bell-crank is provided with a spherical head 63 and projects through a slot 64 in a threaded sleeve 65. An operating rod 66 has one end thereof threaded onto the sleeve and is provided with a spherical depression in the end thereof adapted to engage the spherical head 63. A set screw 67 threaded to the sleeve from the opposite end' thereof engages the opposite side of the head 63, and is provided with a spherical depression to cooperate with the spherical head 63. A second set screw 68 is provided for locking the set screw 67 in adjusted position. With such an arrangement, it is obvious that the rod 66 may have universal movement with the arm 62', thereby not only permitting the motion of the bell-crank to be imparted to the rod 66, but also permitting the rod to be moved from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 2 without putting a strain on the connection between the bell-crank and the rod.

A pin 69 projects downwardly from the under side of thetable on the side thereof away from the operators position and this pin carries a rocking lever 70 pivoted substantially at its center. The ends of the lever 70 are provided with spherical heads 71 and 72 which cooperate with the sleeves 73 and 74 to form a universal connection similar to that shown in Fig. 5 at the lower left hand corner. The sleeve 74 is mounted on the end of a rod 75 which is in turn pivoted at 7 6 to one arm 77 of a bell-crank rotatably mounted on the screw 78 secured to the end of the feed screw 44. The other arm 79 of the bellcrank carries a pawl 30 pivoted thereto at 81 and engaging the teeth of a ratchet 82, secured to the feed screw. A shield 83 adjustable angularly about the screw 78 and adapted to be held at adjusted position by the screw and slot connection 8485 is used to vary the amount of feed imparted to .the feed screw by means of the pawl and ratchet, and in a manner which is well known in the art to which this invention pertains.

It is obvious that when the parts are in the positionshown in Fig. 3, and 1, that the oscillation of the arm 8 causes a reciprocation of the rod 75 by means of the link 56, arm 54, pin 53, arm 55, rod 59, bell-crank 61-62, rod 66 and lever 70. When the table is swung to its inoperative position, there is no disconnecting of the feeding mechanism from the actuating means therefor. The reason for this is that the universal connections described permit the operative parts of the feeding mechanism to automatically adjust themselves to any position of the work table, and no strain is imparted to the operative parts of the feeding mechanism whatsoever. Therefore when the table is again moved to an operative position, the feeding mechanism does not have to be connected either automatically or manually, and the slicing machine is ready to operate as soon as the work table has been moved into the operative position shown in Fig. 3.

I do not wish to limit my invention to work tables which swing about a fixed pivot, as it is obvious that the work table might otherwise be mounted and still receive the full'benefit of the particular connections used in the feeding mechanism disclosed.

Obvious those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains may make various changes in the particular embodiment of my invention shown in the drawings without departing from the spirit of this invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to obtain by'Letters Patent is:

1. In a slicing machine, the combination with a frame having an opening therein, a Work support pivoted adjacent said opening and adapted to project partially therethrough when said work table is in its operative position, a knife mounted to reciprocate adjacent the edge of said work table when said work table is in operative position, a feeding means on said work table for feeding a substance toward the cutting plane of said knife while the work table is in operative position, and operative connections between said feeding mechanism and said reciprocating knife for actuating said feeding mechanism during reciprocation of said knife, said operative connections remaining operatively connected to said knife and said feeding mechanism when said work table is moved from a position adjacent the cutting plane of said knife to an inoperative away from said knife.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which a means is provided for locking the work table in its operative position.

3. In a slicing machine, the combination with a work table adapted to occupy a fixed operative position, a reciprocating knife that reciprocates adjacent said work table while the work table is in its operative position, said work table being movable to an inoperative position away from the cutting plane of said knife, a support for said knife movable therewith as said knife reciprocates, feeding mechanism on said work table for feeding a substance toward the cutting plane of said knife, while said work table is in operative position, and operative connections between said knife support and feeding mechanism including universally connected members for permitting said work table tobe moved away from said cutting plane without destroying the operative connections between said feeding mechanism and support.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3 in which the work table is pivoted.

5. In a slicing machine, the combination with a work support adapted to occupy a position adjacent to a cutting plane and a position remote therefrom, a knife adapted to reciprocate in said cutting plane, a knife support for supporting the knife as it reciprocates, a feed plate on said work support, means for feeding said work plate along said support, and a plurality of links operatively connecting said knife support and feeding mechanism for actuating said feeding mechanism as said knife support reciprocates, some of said links being universally connected to each other in a manner .to form an, operative connection between said knife support and feeding mechanism which permits said work support to be moved to an inoperative position without destroying the connection between said knife support and feeding mechanism.

6. In a slicing machine, the combination with a frame having an opening therein, a reciprocating knife mounted on one side of said frame, a work table mounted on the other side of said frame, and having a portion thereof adapted to project through said opening when said Work table is in operative position, a feed plate on said work table, a feeding mechanism for advancing said feed plate along said work table, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends to said work table, a link universally connected to one end of said lever and said feeding mechanism, a second link universally connected to the other end of said lever and a member movably mounted on said frame,

and operative connections between said last mentioned member and said knife so that when said knife reciprocates, said feeding mechanism is actuated through the connections herein referred to, said work table being movable to an inoperative position away from the cutting plane of the knife without destroying the connections between said feeding mechanism and said knife.

7. A device as claimed in claim 6 in which means is provided for locking the work table in operative position.

8. A slicing machine comprising a movable table and means for locking said table in fixed position comprising a projection occupying a fixed position, an abutment movable with said table and fixed thereto, an arm carried by said abutment, a second arm carried by said abutment and having a cam surface thereon, a spring for rotating said second arm to urge said cam surface toward said abutment, and manually controlled means for moving said arms to an inoperative position while said abutment is moved into engagement with said fixed projection so that said cam surface may be positioned on the side of said projection away from said abutment,

and in gripping engagement therewith.

9. A slicing machine comprising a movable slicing knife, a frame, a substance support movably mounted on said frame for movement to either an operative position adjacent the cutting plane of the slicing knife or to a position remote therefrom, feeding mechanism on said support for feeding a substance therealong, actuating means for said feeding mechanism comprising a pivoted lever mounted on said support, one end of said lever being connected to said feeding mechanism and the other end of said lever being connected to a movable knife actuated element on said frame by means of a connecting rod having pivotal connection with said lever and element to maintain the operative connection therebetween while said support is being moved from one of its positions to another so as not to destroy the operative connection to the feeding mechanism.

10. In a slicing machine, the combination with a slicing knife, of a frame, a substance support pivotally mounted on said frame for movement to and from a fixed operative position in which one edge of said support lies in operativeslicing position adjacent the cutting plane of said knife, a substance clamp mounted on said support, feeding mechanism on said support for feeding said substance clamp along said support, a member for limiting the movement of said support toward the cutting plane of said knife and for locating the operative position thereof, and a yielding springpressed abutment on said support for engaging said member when said support is in its operative position for holding said support in its operative position during the slicing operation.

11. In a slicing machine, the combination with a Work table adapted to occupy a fixed operative position, a reciprocating knife that reciprocates adjacent said work table while the work table is in its operative position, said work table being movable to an inoperative position away from the cutting plane of said knife, a support for said knife movable therewith as said knife reciprocates, feeding mechanism on said work table for feeding a substance toward the cutting plane of said knife, while said worktable is in operative position, and operative connections between said knife support and feeding mechanism including a flexible connection for permitting said work table to be moved away from said cutting plane without destroying the operative connections between said feeding mechanism and support.

12. In a slicing machine, the combination with a, frame having on opening therein, a work support pivoted adjacent said opening and adapted to project partially therethrough when said work table is in operative position, a knife, means for moving said knife and frame relative to each other when said work table is in operative position with the knife reciprocating adjacent the edge of said work table, a feeding means on said work table for feeding a substance toward the cutting plane of said knife while said work table is in operative position, and operative connec tions between said feeding mechanism and said knife for actuating said feeding mechanism during the relative reciprocation of said frame and knife, said operative connections remaining operatively connected to said knife and feeding mechanism when said work table is moved from a position adjacent the cutting plane of said knife to an inoperative position away from said knife, and said work table when in operative position being held against movement relative to said frame in the direction of relative reciprocation between said frame and said knife.

13. In a slicing machine, the combination with a frame extending substantially in a vertical plane and having an opening therethrough of substantial size, a work table mounted on said frame for movement to a slicing position in which one end thereof projects into said opening, an arm pivotally mounted on said frame for oscillating movement, a knife mounted rotatably on said arm, means for moving said arm about its pivot and for rotating said knife about its axis, said knife extending in a plane adjacent the edge of said substance support when the latter is in slicing position, and said substance support being movable to an inoperative position away from the cutting plane of said knife, feeding mechanism on said substance support for feeding a substance along the same when the substance support is in slicing position, and articulated linkage connecting said swinging arm and said feeding mechanism in all said positions of said substance support.

WILHELMUS ADRIANUS VAN BERKEL. 

